"Portsmouth Football Club can confirm that Avram Grant is to become manager.

"He will take charge of the team for the home game against Manchester United at Fratton Park on Saturday in his capacity as director of football, having been granted his work permit.

"The club will then go through the process of making the technical change that will allow Avram to become manager. This involves acquiring a new sponsorship number from the Football Association to change his permit status."

Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie was delighted with the appointment.

"Avram is a very experienced and respected manager who has managed at the highest level. The board believes he is the man to help steer the club out of the relegation zone," he said.

"He knows the club, the players and the set-up at Fratton Park, so it was the logical move to make him the next manager, once the board had decided to relieve Paul Hart of the role.

"He will take charge of training on Friday alongside first-team coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan."

Grant, 54, was Pompey's technical director for the 2006/07 season. He then occupied the role of director of football at Chelsea before becoming temporary manager and taking the club to the 2008 Champions League final.

He was appointed director of football at Fratton Park in October subject to an appeal for a work permit.